Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Only the announcements for first and second place remained.
I wasn't worried about 'Park Moon-dae' being eliminated at this point.
‘There are no other candidates.’
Among the remaining contestants, there wasn't a single face left that could realistically take first or second.
Ah, that one guy who took third in the last ranking announcement? His popularity tanked after sightings of him with his girlfriend surfaced.
It was a bit unfortunate, but... meeting your girlfriend every time filming took a break while participating in an idol audition was a disaster of his own making.
"We will now reveal the two candidates for first place!"
The MC shouted several hints into the microphone, his voice booming. His throat sounded a bit hoarse from the long proceedings.
Then, after dragging it out for a moment just like the previous rankings, the candidates were announced.
"Cha Yu-jin!"
Cha Yu-jin stepped forward with a wide grin. Below the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers as if it were a given.
"And the other candidate is..."
Time to get ready.
"Contestant Park Moon-dae!"
As expected.
I stepped forward, receiving formal congratulations from a few contestants I wasn't particularly close with.
"Hyung, congratulations."
At least Gold 2 seemed sincere, though I could see him forcing himself to act brave as the reality of his own elimination began to sink in.
I just patted him on the back a few times and climbed onto the podium.
Cha Yu-jin, who was already up there, held out his hand.
"Let's shake hands!"
He looked incredibly excited. I hoped he’d carry this momentum all the way to first place.
Without saying much, I quietly accepted the handshake. For a moment, the atmosphere in the venue turned warm and friendly.
‘Is my debut officially confirmed with this?’
I checked to see if there were any changes to the Status Window, but there was only the 'Successful Stage' pop-up from earlier.
"You two, looking at your opponent for the number one spot, what are your thoughts?"
Cha Yu-jin immediately snatched up the microphone.
"He's really cool!"
"Haha! A very clear-cut answer~!"
The MC laughed, then threw out a bait question to build tension.
"Do you think you'll take first place today?"
"I don't know. But I like first place!"
Cha Yu-jin gave a big thumbs-up.
It wasn't to the point where people would be put off by him joking around during the finals; it was just enough confidence to make the viewers feel good.
"Understood~! Now then, let's hear contestant Park Moon-dae's thoughts. How do you feel looking at your opponent?"
I picked up the mic.
"He's such a talented friend... it hasn't really sunk in that I'm being mentioned alongside him."
"That was a very humble statement~! But, first place... how about it? Do you think there's a possibility?"
I knew he’d find a way to ask me this question too.
I paused for a beat as if thinking it over. Then, I gave a slight shake of my head.
"...It seems unlikely. Honestly, even second place is much higher than my goal, so I'm just grateful."
For some reason, when I said 'it seems unlikely,' a small ripple of laughter broke out among the audience below the stage.
‘Did I sound too sincere?’
"Ah, so you wouldn't be disappointed even with second place? Truly?"
"...Yes. Though, of course, I would be very grateful if it happened."
"Oh~ I see. Everyone, that was contestant Park Moon-dae's mindset."
‘Persistent bastard.’
The MC finally stopped the questioning and went back to stalling.
The buzz surrounding Re-listing! Idol Inc., the viewership ratings, the reactions from various sectors, and even the (self-proclaimed) top-tier treatment they would receive upon debuting were broadcasted one after another.
And after dragging it out for a long time, right before the announcement:
"The long-awaited first place is... revealed after the break!"
‘I knew it.’
Normally, the candidates are supposed to look nervous and then collapse or show some dramatic reaction, but since the candidates were me and Cha Yu-jin, there was only applause and laughter.
Instead, groans of resentment and a few curses erupted from below the stage.
‘I think I just heard a slur.’
I was almost certain I heard a curse word fly out from behind a 'Moon-deng-deng' slogan.
"Hyung! Debut! Let's do lots of fun things together!"
"...Sure."
Cha Yu-jin started talking to me as soon as the commercial break sign went up. He was so excited that anyone watching would think he’d already debuted and moved into the dorms.
‘Does he really not care about first place?’
Then again, the first-place benefit was still being vaguely kept alive with the phrase 'Incredible Benefits!'
If he didn't have a desire for fame, it wouldn't be strange for him to be in a 'Whatever, I'm debuting anyway' state of mind.
But from the perspective of someone who knew what that first-place benefit was, I was on edge.
As I’d mentioned before, that benefit was practically a penalty.
In reality, Cha Yu-jin had been first place all along and was first in the previous ranking announcement, so I knew the probability of him winning was higher.
But people have premonitions, don't they?
Seeing the internet reactions yesterday, the anxiety that 'Park Moon-dae' might actually take first place wouldn't go away.
‘...I don't know. I'll just take some heat then.’
I gave up on thinking. As long as I avoided sudden death, it was fine.
After humoring Cha Yu-jin for a few words, the live broadcast resumed.
"Re-listing! Idol Inc., now moments away from the grand announcement of first place!"
The MC repeated everything he’d said earlier. I practically had it memorized.
‘Just say it already.’
Honestly, since we both made it in anyway, why drag it out like this?
‘I bet everyone’s already changed the channel.’
Fortunately, the MC finally said the name.
The long-awaited first place is...
"...Park Moon-dae!"
It wasn't the name I expected.
‘...So this is how it goes.’
Meaning, I took first place.
I lowered my head deeply to hide my face in case my expression gave me away, but then I realized something unexpected. I felt... good.
First-place penalty or whatever, the fact that I had won sent a sudden rush of adrenaline straight to the top of my head.
The taste of achievement was thrilling.
I almost laughed out loud.
‘This is stronger than when I got into university.’
Thanks to that, I was able to give my speech immediately without having to hide my face.
"Congratulations~!"
Cha Yu-jin gave me a very loyal hug.
‘Very American.’
I returned the brief hug and picked up the mic.
Looking at the venue from the same angle as the MC, I saw several production staff members right in front of the stage looking at me with expressions that seemed to say, 'Don't you plan on crying?'
‘Nope. Not happening.’
I just smiled.
Well, honestly, half of it was luck and thanks to the Status Window... but regardless, I played my part too, didn't I?
"Contestant Park Moon-dae, your thoughts! Please give us your thoughts."
"Yes."
I paused for a moment, then just spoke honestly.
Maybe it was because I was drunk on the sudden adrenaline. The words seemed to come from my spinal cord rather than being calculated in my head.
"To be honest, I came here with the goal of debuting. I really wanted to debut, I had to... so I never even thought about first place. I didn't expect it. I thought just debuting was more than enough."
I caught my breath.
"But... now that I've done it, it feels really good."
Cheers and light laughter erupted from all over.
My next words, "Honestly, I didn't know it would be like this," were barely audible. The MC, receiving a signal from the staff to keep dragging it out, asked me again.
"Is there anyone you'd like to thank at this moment?"
I was going to say it anyway.
"Hmm... no one in particular comes to mind. I'm just grateful to those who invested in 'Park Moon-dae'."
I paused for a moment as screams erupted from below the stage, then slowly continued.
"It would be great if I could repay you somehow... Well, regardless of what you spent on me, I will work hard to ensure that your consumption yields the highest efficiency for its price point. Thank you."
I finished speaking and gave a deep bow. Amidst the cheers and applause, I could hear the sound of sniffing.
The person holding the 'Moon-deng-deng' slogan was sobbing so hard and gripping it so tightly that the slogan was all crumpled, making it look more like 'Noo-daen-nae.'
‘At those words...?’
I was a bit bewildered, but if they took it well, then that was a relief.
Seeing people being happy for me as if it were their own success made my heart ache slightly.
‘Not bad.’
If it's like this, I guess it doesn't matter if I have to take the first-place penalty.
By the time I’d sorted out my feelings, the MC was conducting an interview with Cha Yu-jin, who took second place.
Cha Yu-jin was grinning ear to ear as he gave his thoughts to his mother in English and waved enthusiastically to the audience.
He was such an obvious 'fun-player' that I could see why people voted for him. He was the type who didn't give people unnecessary stress or emotional exhaustion.
"Thank you~!"
Cha Yu-jin wrapped up his thoughts cheerfully. The production staff signaled for him to join the debut group's seats next to the podium.
After Cha Yu-jin ran off excitedly, the MC turned back to me.
The suspenseful background music began.
"Now, the time for choice has come."
Here it is.
I stood straight and clasped my hands together.
"The incredible benefit given to first place—its true identity will be revealed right now! Contestant Park Moon-dae!"
"Yes."
"What kind of benefit do you hope it is?"
"......I'm not sure."
I'd like about 100 million won.
"I don't really know.... A fast debut?"
"Ah~ that's important!"
The MC spread his hands.
"Now, show us the benefit!"
Then, an opening effect appeared on the large electronic display in front and the ones next to it, and soon, text appeared.
[Prize Money: 50 Million Won!]
"...!?"
Why is prize money coming out of there?
"Yes! Contestant Park Moon-dae can receive 50 million won as the first-place benefit immediately! Right after this live broadcast ends!"
This can't be right.
Even in my confusion, my brain was busy calculating the actual amount after taxes. 39 million won.
Of course... it would be great to receive it.
But as expected, there was no way I was just going to pocket 30-something million won like this.
"Or! There is another option!"
Following the MC's words, new text appeared on the screen.
[Recruit a New Member!]
"With the authority of first place, contestant Park Moon-dae can designate one person among the 14 contestants who made it to the final ranking announcement to be a teammate and debut together!"
‘There it is.’
This godforsaken choice finally showed up.
The absolute mess of a benefit that tells the first-place winner to personally pick one of the final eliminated contestants to join the debut group!
A penalty disguised as a benefit!
And it had become even more malicious.
‘You're telling me to choose between the prize money and this...!’
How could anyone choose the prize money in this situation!
If I chose the money here, I’d be making enemies of everyone who voted for the other 14 people. Naturally, I’d have no choice but to pick the new recruitment option!
I could already see the comments flaming me.
Probably no one standing here could have chosen the money.
The production bastards surely knew that and pulled this stunt.
Torturing the winner's mind just to inject some drama into the final episode of the program—they really are the same people who made negative voting an official rule.
‘This is getting on my nerves.’
Should I just take the money and the hate?
"Contestant Park Moon-dae?"
"...Yes."
I managed to answer without delay.
All sorts of screams were erupting from the audience, loud enough to make my ears ring.
The people standing below the stage were also shouting names and screaming, and my brain wasn't working.
"Have you made your decision?"
"...Yes."
There was no point in dragging it out. I opened my mouth.